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I could not make it to last year’s edition of the Light of Day concert in Belgium ‘cause I was out of town. But I wouldn’t want to have missed this year’s for the world.
I had a lot of fun. Seeing friends again, hearing familiar songs and on top of it all I had the privilege of taking pictures again. Artists this year included Jesse De Belder from Alps, Guy Davis, Adam Ezra & Corrina Smith, Jake Thistle, Rob Dye and of course Joe D’Urso.
The Light of Day Foundation, Inc., utilizes the awesome power of music to raise money and awareness in our continuing quest to end Parkinson’s disease and related neuro-degenerative diseases, specifically Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), within our lifetime. It was founded by Bob Benjamin in 2000. A concert in Belgium is staged since 2013.
Episode 5: A Day of Infamy
Today, a year ago I stepped on the USS Arizona Memorial for the 2nd time in my life. Last time I was there in real life, was 2001. But I will watch the National Park Services’ live stream of the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor every year. I am watching it this year as I have been doing all those years between my visits. I am there in spirit every year.
In the early hours of Sunday, December 7, 1941, the Japanese Navy and Air Force bore down on the US naval base of Pearl Harbor. Their goal: to sink the US Navy’s aircraft carriers and annihilate the pacific fleet. It clearly was a well planned attack. Torpedo bombers and high-level bombers ragged havoc on the US fleet. All 8 battleships in port were damaged, four of them were sunk. Fortunately, the aircraft carriers were not in port.
The Japanese Air Force also attacked the US airfields at Wheeler, Hickham, Bellows and Ford Island. They destroyed most of the US airplanes on those bases. They also strafed and bombed the naval air station at Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Air Station Ewa and the Schofield Barracks Army Base.
You can still see bullet holes in the windows of the historic Hangar 79 on Ford Island from the 1941 attack.
And a Japanese torpedo used in the attack that was later recovered from the bay at Pearl Harbor, is on display in the museum of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial.
When the attack was over, a mere three hours later, a total of 2403 US military and civilians were killed Another 1178 were wounded. 1177 sailors died aboard the USS Arizona alone. More than 900 of them are entombed inside the hull, 40ft underwater, to this day.
The National Park Service maintains the USS Arizona Memorial—dedicated on May 30, 1962—since 1980 as a permanent reminder to that fateful day in 1941. They later added the USS Oklahoma Memorial and the USS Utah Memorial (more on them later).
A day after the attack, President Roosevelt addressed Congress and declared war on Japan with his famous Day of Infamy speech:
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan […] I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.”
The US Navy started a salvage mission at Pearl Harbor after the attack was over. Most battleships that were hit on December 7, 1941 were repaired and returned to business. The USS Arizona was the only battleship that was not salvaged. However, the US Navy removed the ship’s super structure. So, today, most of the USS Arizona is under water. Only a few parts stick out above the water line. In fact, the park rangers from the National Park Services told me that the ship still is slowly sinking into the muddy bay that is Pearl Harbor.
The US Navy had refueled the USS Arizona the day before the attack. When that Japanese bomb hit the forward magazine on the USS Arizona, the ship had about 1.5 million gallons of fuel oil on board. Many of its fuel tanks remained relatively in tact as the USS Arizona sank to the bottom of the harbor. Over the years, USS Arizona’s fuel tanks began to leak. The oil in its tanks began to rise to the surface in little droplets. These droplets were soon dubbed the Tears of the Arizona.
Legend has it that the ship releases the little drops of oil because it is morning the lost of the 1177 sailors when she sank. The USS Arizona is in fact weeping black tears. It is said, she would continue to shed her tears until the last remaining survivor of the USS Arizona would pass away. NPS park rangers told me that noticeable less oil leaked from the USS Arizona since LCDR Lou Conter—the last remaining USS Arizona survivor—passed away in April 2024. So, maybe the legend is true after all.
But you can still see oil seeping from the USS Arizona’s wreckage and raise to the surface today. The little back drops burst into beautiful rainbow colored spots as they reach the surface. I’m sure that the tears will continue to emerge from the USS Arizona for years to come.
In the present day, the USS Arizona Memorial sits solemnly over the remains of the the battleship BB-39 USS Arizona. It is flanked by BB-63 Missouri. In the distance, you see the beautifully restored control tower on Ford Island.
Today, as I celebrate another year around the sun, I feel blessed. December 7th is no longer just a day of infamy. It is a day to remember, honor and understand. It is also a day to celebrate.
I am surrounded by many of the people that are dear to me. We’re sharing pizza and chicken wings. A tradition started in 2001 after my 1st trip to Hawai‘i. To anyone who’s dear to me and who’s reading this (you know who you are): mahalo for your friendship!
Episode Guide
This story is part of a series of stories from my trip to Hawai‘i in December 2024. Other episodes include:
Prelude: Aloha from Hawai‘i
Episode 1: Local Wildlife
Episode 2: USS Missouri
Episode 3: Hawaiian Sunsets
Episode 4: 4 Different Colors of Sand on the Beach
Episode 5: A Day of Infamy
Also, read all about my 3 day stopover in Seattle, WA before heading to Hawai‘i.
Episode 4: 4 Different Colors of Sand on the Beach
Did you know there are 4 different colors of sand on the beaches in Hawai‘i? Say what? Four!? Yup, they’ve got white sand beaches like the one at Waimea Bay on the north shore of O‘ahu.
There is black sand beaches like the beautiful Punalu‘u Beach on the Island of Hawai‘i, aka the Big Island.
You’ll only find red sand beaches on Maui, on the legendary road to Hāna. Even though they say that the beach at Kōkī Beach doesn’t really count, they serve damn good Huli Huli Chicken there.
And there’s green sand beaches… Dasm! I forgot to drop by a green sand beach to take a pic. A good reason to go back to the islands i guess.
Episode Guide
This story is part of a series of stories from my trip to Hawai‘i in December 2024. Other episodes include:
Prelude: Aloha from Hawai‘i
Episode 1: Local Wildlife
Episode 2: USS Missouri
Episode 3: Hawaiian Sunsets
Episode 4: 4 Different Colors of Sand on the Beach
Also, read all about my 3 day stopover in Seattle, WA before heading to Hawai‘i.
Episode 3: Hawaiian Sunsets
Hawaiian Sunsets are just gorgeous. Whether you’re on O‘ahu, Maui or the Island of Hawai‘i. They are full of color and spectacular. You’ll get every shade of red, yellow, orange, pink and deep mauve. You would want to go outside every evening to just sit quietly and watch the sun go down in technicolor.
What would be better that an Hawaiian Sunset? How about a luau and a hula on a warm winter evening? It’s December 1st, 2024 and we were outside in jeans and a t-shirt drinking cocktails… Listing to traditional Hawaiian songs and the inevitable Andrews Sisters evergreen Christmas on Christmas Island.
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is a must-visit park when you’re in Hawai‘i. It is home to Kīlauea, an active shield volcano. It is also a great place to watch the sun set. Right on the edge of the Kīlauea caldera sits Volcano House. A hotel and fine dining restaurant. A great place for dinner and drinks, and watching the sun set and steam rise from the vents of Kīlauea from their patio.
In the weeks and months leading up to our trip, there was a lot of seismic activity at the park. Usually a precursor to activity in the volcano. And lo and behold, we had hardly returned home and Halemaʻumaʻu crater inside the Kīlauea caldera started erupting. Between mid December 2024 and October 2025 it has spewed lava 35 times. Sometimes 1500ft high. How cool would it be to sit on the patio of Volcano House at sunset watching Kīlauea’s fireworks?
Afraid of being alone? Head down to Waikīkī Beach. You’re sure to not be alone. And your sunset pics will be swapped with tourists.
Episode Guide
This story is part of a series of stories from my trip to Hawai‘i in December 2024. Other episodes include:
Prelude: Aloha from Hawai‘i
Episode 1: Local Wildlife
Episode 2: USS Missouri
Episode 3: Hawaiian Sunsets
Episode 4: 4 Different Colors of Sand on the Beach
Also, read all about my 3 day stopover in Seattle, WA before heading to Hawai‘i.
The 1st F-35 Lightning II fighters for the Belgian Air Force arrived in Belgium yesterday. 1SQN pilots brought them home to Florennes Air Base. On base, they were greeted by His Royal Highness King Filip of Belgium, the Secretary of Defense, the Chief of Defense along with other dignitaries. Outside the fence, a couple of hundreds of aviation enthusiasts looked on as those 1st 3 F-35’s with Belgian Air Force livery touched down.
In fact, these were not the very 1st F-35’s delivered to the Belgian Air Force. 8 more Belgian F-35’s are assigned to 312 SQN. They are stationed at Luke Air Force Base in the USA. They are used to train our pilots on the new airframe.
We had a day of typical Belgian weather: a sky with 50 shades of grey and from time to time a light drizzle. So, my pictures did not turn out to be great. I’m sure that I’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet these jets in better light.
If you know me, you know I love the city of London. And any reason is a good reason to spend a couple of days in the capital of the U.K. Long weekends in May are the perfect time for a stroll along sites everyone knows: the London Eye, the Royal Albert Hall, St. Paul’s Cathedral, …
Or you could just visit areas you haven’t been in a long while. Just as I had not been to the financial district of London in a very long time. Gaping at the skyscrapers. Finding surprising views of some of those iconic towers.
Did you know there’s a rose garden 37 stories up in the heart of the city?
My main reason to head to London this time was to go see The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks. The Moonwalkers is a full immersive video experience telling stories about NASA’s Apollo missions to the moon and behind-the-scenes of upcoming Artemis program. You can no longer experience The Moonwalkers in London. At the time publication of this article, you can experience it in Manchester (UK), Boston, MA and at Space Center Houston in Texas.
Moonwalkers puts you in the middle of the action. Quite literally. You are surrounded by video of NASA’s most daring missions. And when looking at images of the Apollo astronauts on the moon, it feels as if you’re standing next to them.
The foodie in me got treated to a couple of delights too: coffee and donuts from Donutelier in Carnaby Street, burgers and fries at Heard.–run by Two Michelin-starred chef Jordan Bailey–just off of Borough Market and Mexican at El Pastor in Coal Drops Yard. I left London a happy pup… And well fed too.
Yellow latex, a couple of pine trees and the warm glow of the evening sun. All the ingredients you need for a nice shoot with my gorgeous friend Daria. Daria and I found a couple of pine trees and the warm glow of the evening sun to light up her curves and that yellow latex bikini… These are the pics we got:
Episode 2: USS Missouri
September 2nd, 1945: the battleship USS Missouri (BB-63) anchors in the Bay of Tokyo. She will be the scene of the signing of Japanese Instrument of Surrender. While several dozens of Allied war planes fly over the USS Missouri and the bay of Tokyo, Generals Yoshijirō Umezu for Japan and Douglas MacArthur for the US sign the document that brings an end to WWII.
(photos from my 2001 trip to Hawai‘i)
The Mighty Mo, as the battleship is affectionately known, had previously participated in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She would later do 2 tours in the Korean War between 1950 and 1953. She would also escort oil tankers in the Persian Gulf in the 1980’s. USS Missouri served in Operation Dessert Storm before being decommissioned in 1991.
She is now moored at a dock next to the USS Arizona Memorial and serves as a museum ship. No visit to Pearl Harbor would be complete without a quick visit to this mighty vessel. We were treated to a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace by a local school choir as they were rehearsing for the ceremonies for the attack on Pearl Harbor.
We visited her for the 1st time back in 2001. So we had a pretty good idea of what to expect. She’s beautifully maintained. She’s even got a new deck in certain parts of the ship. Space is still as cramped as ever. It is hard to imagine having to live and work in those tight quarters along almost 2000 other sailors.
If I would have been a sailor on the USS Missouri, this would probably be my duty station. This repair shop of the electrical engineers of Mighty Mo. It was hard to fathom that there were hardly any computers or digital instruments on the ship. I asked myself how they did al those complex tasks without help from computers, digital radio, etc. Note the overly important drawer with coffee supplies.
The beginning and the end of WWII in the Pacific now lay next to each other in the shallow waters of Pearl Harbor. To left, USS Missouri (BB-63) and to the right USS Arizona (BB-39).
Did you know the Mighty Mo is also a famous movie star? She was pulled out to sea by 3 tug boats to star in the 2012 movie Battleship. And in the 1992 Movie Under Siege, Erika Eleniak jumped out of a cake in Missouri’s officer’s mess.
Episode Guide
This story is part of a series of stories from my trip to Hawai‘i in December 2024. Other episodes include:
Prelude: Aloha from Hawai‘i
Episode 1: Local Wildlife
Episode 2: USS Missouri
Episode 3: Hawaiian Sunsets
Episode 4: 4 Different Colors of Sand on the Beach
Also, read all about my 3 day stopover in Seattle, WA before heading to Hawai‘i.
Walking? Kissing? Lovin’? Riding a unicorn? I think Ashley’s boots are made for posing. They should be the star of the these simple pics. A little bit of latex should be OK, right?
Model Daria appeared to me like a fata morgana in the Lommelse Sahara a little while ago. When she dressed in her white outfit, she looked like an Arabian princess. The white sand beach of the Lommelse Sahara, the lake and the trees in the background… It makes for a scene from Arabian Nights.
And even when she dresses in fiery red, she still looks adorable.
